Writing+sheet+-+narrative

Some people think that the narrative essay is the most fun to write of all essays. What could be more fun than writing about yourself? In a narrative essay, you get to do just that.

Before you begin your narrative essay, think of an experience that is going to be interesting to others. You will want your experiences to provide insights—into life, human nature, friendship, or some other universal theme. Think about the books you’ve read or the movies you’ve seen. You probably enjoy the ones in which you can relate to what is happening to the characters. When your reader can relate to your experiences on some level, he or she will find it interesting.

Your narrative essay is your experience (told in the first person), but that doesn’t mean it has to include every detail of that experience. Who cares that you brushed your hair before you went out—unless you were nervous about how you looked because you knew you’d be seeing the person you have a crush on that day. Choose your details carefully.

As in a good story, the details should help you build your plot to a climax and a good ending.

Finally, use language that recreates the experience for the reader. You may have heard the saying “Show, don’t tell.” Remember it. Don’t say, “The new math teacher looked as if she was a nice person.” That leaves the reader asking, “How do you know?” Say, “The new math teacher had a sympathetic smile and warm, brown eyes.”

Remember all this, and you’ll begin to enjoy telling stories as much as others enjoy reading them.